Replacing a Celeron D with a dual core?

[PspKicks316]

I'm gonna be upgrading my girlfriends computer for her. I'm already putting in a GeForce 9500 in her spare Pci-e x16 slot because she's using :censored:ty onboard graphics (Intel GMA900. UGH) and she needs a new graphics card to play TS3.

She's also got a socket 775 with a Celeron D 355 which is a single core 3.33Ghz cpu with 533Mhz FSB and 256kb L2 cache.
I was wondering if I'd be able to upgrade this to, say, a dual core Pentium? I can get a 3.73Ghz Pentium dual core w/ 1066Mhz FSB and 4mb L2 cache. I'm thinking this is...way too much of an upgrade for her computer, huh? Even though it's the same socket? What about a BIOS upgrade for that?

Anyways, thanks guys and hopefully I'll get this upgraded for her soon! Ordering the graphics card for her probably on Wednesday or so. Yay. It's THIS one unless I find a cheaper one between now and then. It has to be Pci-e x16 and it's not 2.0.

edit: That GPU is Pci-e 2.0... but I found out the 8x00 line is pci-e so I'll get her one of those. They're better, too.

[aquatsr]

As long as you get another LGA775-compatible CPU I think you will be fine. I'm not sure whether you need to flash the BIOS or not.

I didn't know the Celeron D processor was single core... interesting. (Cause the Pentium D is dual core, and in general the Celeron line is just Pentiums/Cores that didn't meet performance benchmarks during testing)

[loganbyers07]

Yea, you should be fine, as long as the psu is up to par youl be a okay.

And also, How much ram are you going to put in it?

[PspKicks316]

Hmm. Thanks guys I'll keep that in mind. I'm just wondering if the motherboard would support it. It's an eMachines T3522 desktop that I'm upgrading.

I decided to go with an 8600 GSO. $50 with a $20 MIR too. Pretty good. It'll get her where she needs to be with gaming, at least.

Her computer had 512Mb DDR2 RAM in it, which her dad brought into work (Staples) to get upgraded. They put in a 2gb stick along side that, so she's got 2.5gb now. Not sure the speed.

[aquatsr]

Hopefully the RAM speed is at least 667, and not 333. Otherwise that fast FSB on your new CPU will be under-utilized. Unless the DDR2 is rated for 800 MHz I would swap that out too.

If you want to be 100% sure on the CPU try to find the manual for the mobo in the PC. Usually compatible processors, or families of processors, are listed.

[PspKicks316]

I've looked online everywhere and can only find a relative specs list. The eMachines site doesn't even have anything.

If I can't use the CPU, then big deal I'll use it in a small PC I'll build, haha.


edit: The RAM is 533Mhz. The original, at least. I'll check everything out once I install the graphics card for her. I probably won't upgrade past that, but who knows.

[psp339]

You cannot use a newer Pentium Dual Core CPU in an older machine using a Celeron. Also, there is no such thing as a 8600GSO. Did you mean 9600GSO?

[aquatsr]

You cannot use a newer Pentium Dual Core CPU in an older machine using a Celeron. Also, there is no such thing as a 8600GSO. Did you mean 9600GSO?

Not even if they have the same "socket" ?

[PspKicks316]

So shoot me I made a typo.
8600 GTS* because it's Pci-e and not pci-e 2.0

[psp339]

Not even if they have the same "socket" ?

No because the chipset will not support it.

So shoot me I made a typo.
8600 GTS* because it's Pci-e and not pci-e 2.0

You can still use a PCI-E 2.0 card in a regular PCI-E x16 slot.

[PspKicks316]

No you can't...

[aquatsr]

Damn, I'm sorry Kicks. I thought you could at least upgrade to a Pentium D. Sorry.

[PspKicks316]

Nah that's cool. She's fine with her 3.33Ghz celeron D right now.

Once she gets a new computer, I can always take the graphics card out and put it in her new one and replace stuff in the new one (since it would be, well, newer and support more).

Thanks for the info/feedback guys.